"THERE WAS NO CONTEST"

Following his switch from Preston, defender Scott Laird can’t wait to get started at the Iron.

The full-back has penned a three-year deal with Scunthorpe, leaving the Lilywhites after 42 appearances in all competitions last season, with North End promoted to the Championship via the play-offs.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be here,” he told The Iron Player.

“From the get-go, I started speaking to the gaffer a couple of weeks ago and straight away he set out his plans, told me his future and how he saw everything and in the end there was no contest.

“I’ve been lucky in my career to have experienced promotions in my career and have been successful from the Conference, League Two and now League One to the Championship. I feel I can bring a lot of know-how and hopefully help a lot of players who are coming to the club who have not necessarily done it and get Scunthorpe back to the Championship.”

Scott Wiseman and Jack King were two earlier recruits from Preston, with their additions only aiding the newest Scott in Iron colours to make his decision to join United.

“They’ve been pestering me to get it sorted,” he joked.

“They’re going to be gutted that I’m back in the same team as them, but they couldn’t get rid of me that easily. It’s good to have them here. They sung so highly of Scunthorpe and how they’ve been treated so far in their short time here and it made my decision much easier.

“It’s nice to come to a club with new surroundings and a fresh challenge and there are people I already know; such as Joe Anyon and Rory Fallon.

“It’s a nice, tidy stadium which is compact and every time I’ve played here in the past, the fans have been vociferous and it’s something that spurs the players on.”

The vision for the future was a key aspect in Scott making the switch from Deepdale, penning a contract which should see him in claret and blue into his thirties.

“When the gaffer told me the owner’s visions for the future, it only helped my decision,” he stated.

“It was a big thing that got me here. I want to be apart of what is going on in the next couple of years and with the new stadium, facilities and the vision – it was something I really wanted to be apart of.

“The players that have been signed already and the players that the gaffer is looking to sign make this a very exciting prospect.

“To win promotion, you have to keep clean sheets and I’m a defender and love defending, so that’s exactly what we will try and achieve. I also enjoy attacking and fans will see my attacking intent as well, but first and foremost I am a defender.

“I’ve been involved in teams that have been successful and kept a lot of clean sheets and we had the joint best defence in the league last season with Preston and it was the same the year before with Stevenage.”

He added: “What you’ll see from me is commitment - 100% every time – I’ll get stuck in, but also enjoying myself.”